Portable dredge



Jan. 24, 1956 c p KAUFMANN 2,731,741

PORTABLE DREDGE Filed NOV. 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

(A/PL EMU/MANN BY %4 2B /J ATTO/P/VAKS Jan. 24, 1956 c. P. KAUFMANN 2,731,741

PORTABLE DREDGE Filed Nov. 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. C424 P KAUFMAN 8 Mai ,4 TOEA/[YS PORTABLE DREDGE Application November 2, 1950, Serial No. 193,710 4 Claims. (CI. 37-54) This invention relates to portable dredging machines, and, more particularly to the hydraulic-type machine mounted on a hull arranged for assembly at the point of use.

The operational characteristics of a hydraulic dredge are well known as well as the problem connected with the assembly of a large floating craft complete with dredge machinery, especially where the machine is to be used on land-locked bodies of water. The ordinary procedure for placing the dredging machine in operation is to transport the structure in small increments and performing the assembly at the launching site. This involves fabrication of parts of the machine under conditions which are not adapted for the purpose.

An object of this invention is to provide a sectional hull structure which may be pre-fabricated at the point of manufacture and transported to the operational site with a majority of the equipment mounted in place.

An object of the invention is to provide a sectional hull structure which has a central section, proportioned to provide a displacement exceeding the total weight of the section, pump, and the power unit mounted therein, which will float when launched in the water, during the assembling of the remaining sections of the hull thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dredging machine which is sectionalized in such a manner that ordinary means of transportation such as railroads and trucks may be utilized to move the machine to the desired location.

Another object of the invention is to provide dredging machine which has the. operational equipment mounted on a body section of the hull which will float upon being launched without assistance from the remaining sections of the hull.

Another important object is to provide a dredging machine having a central body section of the hull with the operational equipment mounted thereon and auxiliary hull sections which may be floated into place and joined to the body section to completethe hull and give the machine the necessary buoyancy and stability characteristics required by the operation of the dredging machinery.

The manner in which these objects and advantages of the invention are realized, and other advantages of the invention of more or less ancillary nature will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the. description herein of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the dredging machine with parts cut away to show the relative location of the equipment;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric diagrammatical view of the hull showing the arrangement of parts before assembly.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings, and described in the following specification, the numeral designates the hull on which the dredging equipment is mounted.

States Patent 0 2,731,741 Patented Jan. 24, 1956 A pump and motor drive unit 11 is mounted amidship and on the lower wall 12 of hull 10 thereby locating the center of gravity of the pump and power unit as low as possible and bringingthe inlet of the pump 11 to a point adjacent the water line of bull 10. The water and spoil inlet line 13 projects forwardly from the hull 10, extends to the end of boom 14 and terminates adjacent to the rotating cutter 15. The cutter 15 is driven by a power unit 16 through a shaft 17. Boom 14 is raised and lowered by the winch mechanism 18 which operates the usual boom falls and rigging.

A pair of spuds 19 are mounted for vertical reciprocation on the rearmost portion of the hull 1'0 and are raised and lowered for engagement with the bottom of the stream or lake as required by the operation ofthe dredging machine. Discharge line 20 from the pumping unit 11 passes rearwardly over the hull 10- and the contents therein are conducted to the discharge point by a pipe line (not shown).

e The hull 10 has a center body section 21 having a deck 22 and a well 23 in which pumping unit 11 is disposed, a pair of rear side sections 24 are joined to the rear portion of section 21, a cross member 25 attached to the rear of deck 22 extends laterally from section 21 and above the side sections 24, and transmits the lifting force from the buoyant sections 24 to the body section 21. A pair of forward side sections 26 are joined to body section 21 immediately ahead of side sections 24 and project forwardly beyond the front of body section 21. A for ward cross member 27 is provided to engage the top of the side members 26 and conduct the buoyant force provided by the side sections 26 to the main body section 21. A pair of joining plates 28 connect the side sections 24 and 26 together thus providing a unitary structure throughout; It may be noted that, in addition to the plates and cross members for joining the sections of the hull, the base for the power unit 16 serves to connect and stabilize the forward sections 26 of the hull and to provide a mounting for the trunnions which pivotally support the boom 14 below the level of the deck for improved operational characteristics. Each of the sections 24 and 26 is' a hollow, water-tight structure in the nature of a pontoon. Man holes 29 are provided in the upper decks of sections 24 and 26 for access to the interior and two pipe connections" 30 in the upper deck' of each section leading to and allowing water to be pumped to the interior of ballast tanks 31 mounted below the water line to load and reduce the buoyancy of the side sections;

The desirability of fabricating and assembling ma= chinery in the shop is'well' understood; It is for that reason that the hull and the equipment mounted thereon, as disclosed'in this application, have been arranged to allow the complete assembly "of the major portion of the dredging machine under shop conditions, and a minor portion of the assembly to bemade under field conditions. The main body section 21 is of such size that it may be conveniently handled and transported by truck or railway car.

Its dimensions, therefore, are preferably limited to those allowed for highway travel. The main pump and drive motor unit 11 is mounted in the well 23 before the equipment leaves the shop. Further, the winch mechanism 18 is also installed on the deck of section 21 immediately ahead of the well 23. All of the fastenings for the rigging and the spuds 19 are also permanently installed at the time the unit is manufactured.

To complete the assembly, the machine is moved to the point of use and the center section 21 is launched into the body of water in which the dredging machine will be used. The section 21 is designed to float the pump and power unit mounted thereon with sufiicient freeboard to facilitate handling.

The side sections 24 and 26 are then launched and the ballast tanks 31 inside are filled with water to lower their deck lines to that of the center section 21. They may then be floated to their operable position adjoining the center section and assembled thereto with conventional fastening means. After the assembly is completed, the water may be pumped from the side sections 24 and 26 whereupon their buoyancy will be returned and they will assist in floating the machinery and the center section 21 at a higher level above the water. Further, the addition of the side sections adds stability to the hull to prevent overturning, and the forward projecting portions of the side sections 26 assist in carrying the weight of the boom and the equipment associated therewith. With the hull in completed form, it is possible to add the rigging, spuds, and other auxiliary equipment as required.

With all of the components in operating position, the boom may be lowered for bringing the cutter 15 and the end of the intake pipe 13 into proximity with the spoil. With the power unit 16 in operation, the cutter 15 is rotated by drive shaft 17. The pumping unit 11 draws the material to be dredged through inlet pipe 13 and discharges the same through outlet line 26. The movement of the dredge and the cutter 15 is controlled by the two spuds 19. A cut is made by swinging the dredge laterally utilizing one of the spuds 19 as a center. Forward movement is accomplished by alternating the spuds as the forward end of the dredge is swung, thereby walking the machine as required by the dredging operation.

When any particular job is completed, the dredging machine may be knocked down to its original sub-assembly units and transported overland to a new location. This feature is particularly important in mining operations where the operations are confined to relatively small bodies of water and the transportation facilities are limited in nature.

It is to be understood that the specific nature of the present disclosure is not intended to be restrictive or confining and that various rearrangements ofparts and modifications of design may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is; p l

l. A portable dredge having a hull comprising a main section and a pair of buoyant side sections, a pump and power unit centrally mounted in saidmain section, said main section being proportioned to provide a displacement exceeding the total weight of the main section plus the weight of the pump and power unit whereby the main section may be separably floatable in a stable up-right position, rigid fastening means connecting said side sections and said main section, said connecting means transmitting a portion of the weight of the main section to the side sections whereby said main section is supported by said side sections so that the assembled hull floats higher out of the water than the main section floating separately.

2. A portable dredge having a hull, a pump and power unit in said hull, said hull comprising a main section and a pair of side sections, said main section being proportioned to provide a displacement exceeding the total weight of the main section plus the weight of said pump and power unit, said pump and power unit being mounted centrally of said main section, each of said side sections respectively comprising a pair of separable parts arranged end to end, the combined length of the parts exceeds the length of the main section, the main section and side sections being separably floatable and adapted to be joined together while being floated, rigid connecting means connecting said main section and side sections limiting the relative vertical movement of said main section and side sections whereby a portion of the weight of said main section is supported by said side sections when said hull is assembled.

3. A portable dredge having a hull, a pump and power unit in said hull, and a boom, said hull comprising a main section and a pair of side sections, said main section being proportioned to provide a displacement exceeding the total weight of the mainsection plus the weight of said pump and power unit, said pump and power unit being mounted centrally of said main section, each of said side sections respectively comprising a pair of separable parts arranged end to end, the combined length of the parts exceeds the length of the main section, the main section and side sections being separably floatable and adapted to be joined together. while being floated, rigid connecting means connecting said main section and side sections limiting the relative vertical movement of said main section and side sections whereby a portion of the weight of said main section is supported by said side sections when said hull is assembled, said boom being mounted of that portion of the side sections projecting beyond the main section.

4. A portable dredge having a hull, a pump and power unit in said hull, and a boom, said hull comprising a main section and a pair of side sections, said main section being proportioned to provide a displacement exceeding the total weight of the, main section plus the weight of said pump and power unit, said pump and power unit being mounted centrally of said main section, each of said side sections respectively comprising a pair of separable parts arranged end to end, the combined length of the parts exceeds the length of the main section, the main section and side sections being separably floatable and adapted to be joined together while being floated, rigid connecting means connecting said main section and side sections limiting the relative vertical movement of said main section and side sections whereby a portion of the weight of said main section is supported by said side sections when said hull is assembled, and means for flooding the side sections whereby the side sections may be lowered into coplaner position relative to the main section andjoined to said main section while all sections are floating.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,545 Emerson Sept. 1, 1874 332,227 Brainard Dec. 15, 1885 1,619,850 Casey Mar. 8, 1927 1,739,326 Posselt Dec. 10, 1929 2,314,624 Macauley Mar. 23, 1943 2,384,981 Wallace Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 586,640 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1947 

